About Us

APHIS provides a comprehensive Safety and Health Program for APHIS employees with work places and conditions of employment in which the risk of exposures to potential hazards is minimized.

The Safety, Health, and Environmental Protection Branch administers the APHIS Ergonomics Program as though every employee at APHIS is at risk for developing a work-related musculoskeletal disorder. From administrative personnel to industrial personnel, ergonomics plays an important role in preventing injury and illness. The APHIS Ergonomics Program uses a comprehensive approach to inform employees of the possible ergonomic hazards to which they may be exposed.

The APHIS Ergonomics Program focuses on employees whose primary work-related tasks require repetitive motions, awkward postures, high repetition, and forceful exertions. At APHIS, these types of job tasks normally are performed by employees spending a large portion of their day at computer workstations, employees involved with animal care and handling, and employees involved with repetitive or heavy lifting.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the APHIS Ergonomics Program is to establish a system for the identification, evaluation, and control of ergonomic risk factors in the workplace. Ideally, by identifying, evaluating, and controlling such risk factors, a better match is created between the worker, the work they perform, and the equipment they use to perform their work.

POLICY

APHIS will provide, at no cost to the employee, an ergonomic evaluation of the employee's workstation or work area and training on ergonomic hazards typically found in his/her work area.